Wire-stretcher.



F. S. STEVENS.

WIRE STRETCHER. APPLICATION FILED MAR-9, 19's.

ATTORNEY Patented June 12, 1917.

. STATES FIQ.

FILO S. STEVENS, OF ASHVILLE, NEW YORK.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

Application filed. March 9, 1916. Serial No. 83,113.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FILo S. S'rnvnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ashville, in the county of Chuatauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire- Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation, to wire stretchers and the nature and objects thereof will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation, of the accompanying drawings; illustrating what I now believe to be the preferred embodiments or mechanical expression of my invention from among other forms and arrangements within the spirit of the invention, and the scope of the appended claims.

However, an object of the invention is to provide a wire stretcher which is powerful in its action, and which is adapted to exert a strong pull upon the wire for the pur pose of straightening out the sag, so that it may be readily secured to a post.

Another object of the invention, is to provide a wire stretcher which may be readily adapted to stretch either a single wire, or the wire fencing usually employed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which may be adapted to exert a lateral pull upon the wire or fencing in addition to the longitudinal pull, so that a greater straightening effect may be produced.

In addition to the foregoing my invention comprehends improvements .in the details of construction, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims;

In the accompanying drawings in which similar and corresponding parts are designated by the same characters of reference throughout the several views in which they appear,

Figure 1, is a top plan view of a wire stretcher constructed in accordance with my invention, and shown applied to a fence post Fig. 2, wire stretcher Fig. 1,

Fig. 8, is a longitudinal section through the wire stretcher showing it in use for stretching a single wire,

Fig. 41, is a view in side elevation of the is a view in side elevation, of the and fence post shown in wire stretcher shown in a similar application.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the wire stretcher comprises in its essentials frame members 1, which are substantially triangular in configuration, one side of said members being inwardly curved as at 2, for engaging the fence post 3. A transverse strut 41 is provided adjacent the curved ends of the frame members to hold together the frame members, and this strut is assisted in the performance of its function, by a similar strut 5 disposed betweenthe converging ends of the frame members and extending transversely thereto.

T ransversely extending rollers 6 and 7 are journaled in the frame members and are provided adjacent their ends on the outside of the frame, with ratchet wheels 8 and 9 respectively. Pawls 10 are pivotally mounted on the frame for engaging with the ratchet members and are held in such engagement by means of coil springs 11. Formed upon the ends of the rollers are enlarged heads 12 provided with transversely extending openings into which an operating handle 13, may be inserted for turning the rollers.

A flexible element 1 1 is wound around the roller 7 and has its free end secured to a clamp 15. This flexible element may be a chain, wire, rope, or any other medium de sired. The clamp 15 comprises a jaw 16, having a serrated face 17 and a lateral lug 18 to which the flexible element before described, is. secured. A co-acting jaw 19 is pivoted to the first jaw and is also provided with a serrated face 20 for co-action with the first mentioned jaw, to securely hold the end of the wire 21 which is to be stretched. The jaws are held in clamped engagement upon the wire, by the wedge 22 which is driven beneath an abutment 23 formed upon a bolt 24 which is secured to the jaw 16, and passes through an aperture in the jaw 19.

A flexible element 25 .is wound around the roller 6, and is adapted to'pass around the fence post and engage the wire to be stretched, at a point on the other side of the post.

From as much of the description of the apparatus as has been given, it will be apparent that to stretch the wire, assuming that the device is to be used for stretching a single wire, the roller 7 is rotated by means of a handle 13, and as the flexible element 14 winds upon the roller, the wire 21 will be stretched in an obvious manner. The strain of the stretching fencewire tending to r0- tate the wire stretcher around the post, is counter-acted by the flexible element 25 which extends around the opposite side of the post. If, the wire has been stretched as much as it can be by the action of the roller 7, the wire stretcher may be turned aboutv the fence post by grasping the strut 5 which thus serves as a handle and moving it in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. As the device is thus moved, the slack in the flexible element 25 thus induced may be taken up by turning the roller 6, and the apparatus will be held in its adjusted position.

Thus it will be seen that owing to this arrangement, I am enabled to secure a greater tension upon the fence wire than could be produced, by wire stretchers of the windlass type heretofore provided.

With reference to Figs. ,1 and 2 wherein the device is shown in operation for the stretching of woven fencing to employ the wire stretcher in this capacity it is necessary that a bar 26 be provided to which is secured the end of the fencing,-and this bar is in turn connected to a hook portion 27 of the clamp 19. The flexible element 25 is then connected to a bar 28 which extends transversely across the fencing. The operation of the device in this phase of its employment is identical with its operation when used in the manner previously described.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a wire stretcher, which is simple in its con struction consistent with the functions to be performed, and which may be manufactured at a small cost.

While I have illustrated my invention with some degree of particularity, I nevertheless wish it understood, that I reserve the right and privilege of changing the form of the details, or otherwise altering the an rangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. A wire fence stretcher comprising, a frame having a curved portion adapted to engage the side of a fence post, a Windlass ment for engagement with the fence to be stretched so that the strain of the fence wire at one side of the post will be neutralized a component of said strain, which passes around the opposite side of the post to prevent displacement of the frame relative to the post.

2. A wire stretcher including, spaced frame members having one of their sides curved inwardly for engagement with a fence post, transversely extending, rollers j ournaled in the frame, ratchets on the rollers for preventing rotation in one direction, a flexible element wound around one of the rollers and having a clamp for engaging and holding the end of the wire to be stretched, a flexible element wound around the other roller and being adapted to pass around the fence post for engaging the wire at the other side.

3. A wire stretcher including spaced frame members, substantially triangular in configuration and having one of their side portions concaved for'engagement with the side of a fence post, transverse struts form-' ing a rigid connection bet-ween the frame members, transverse-rollers j ournaled in the frame, ratchet wheels fixed thereto, spring held pawls forengagement with the ratchets to prevent rotation thereof in one direction, enlargements on the ends of-the rollers having transverse openings for the insertion of a handle, a flexible element around one of the rollers having a clamp for engaging and holdmg the wire to be stretched, a flexible element around the second roller which is adapted to pass around the post to engage the wire on the other side.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FILO S. STEVENS;

Witnesses:

LILLIAN W. BARBER, WILLIAM A. BARBER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. V 

